Contents

Understand

Dwarka : Original Dwarka believed to be sunken in the sea. Divers till today are researching, after finding the atrifacts from the sea floor.
Near by small island is known as Bet Dwarka- Hire a boat from dwarka to go there.Bet Dwarks is a part mud and part sand beach. However, it's the best palce for zoologists.

Get in

Dwarka is 450 kms from Ahmedabad and is well connected by Road and Rail. The nearest Airport is at Rajkot which is 225 kms or Jamnagar which is 121 kms from Dwarka. Kingfisher, Spicejet, Goair and Jet Airways operate regular flights to these places. Railway station is located almost 2 km from main Temple

See

Most importantly -Dwarkadhish mandir located at the heart of this small city.
There are a lot of places around Dwarka which can be covered in a Single Day. There are local taxies which are available which would help you to visit them. The major ones covered are:

1. Nageshwar Temple - This is also one of the prominent Jyotirlingas and it is at around 8 Kms from Dwarka.

2. Gopi Talav - This is the place where Lord Krishna used to play with his Gopikas. There is a small pond where it is said that Lord Krishna used to play with the Gopika Strees (Gopika Women).

3. Bet Dwarka - This is supposed to be the place where Krishna lived. This is the place where Krishna used to reside and this is the place where Lord Krishna met his friend Sudama and blessed him, there is a Peetha(Seat) where Lord Krishna met Sudama. The temple also has the main Dwarkadish diety which was believed to have been made by Krishna's chief Queen Rukmini and in which Meera bai merged and disappeared from the material world. There are boats available from Okha Jetty from where people are ferried to the Island which is approximately 30 Kms from Dwarka.

4. Hanuman Mandir - This is also in the Bet Dwarka where Hanuman fought with his son Makaradhwaja. To cover this place, it is adviced to start as early as 7:00 in the morning as this is lonely place and a rickshaw has to be hired to visit this place.

5. Rukshmani Mandir - This temple is situated at 8 Kms from Dwarka. This is in the outskirts of the city and this is a lonely temple and there is an interesting story of Rukmini being cursed by sage Durvasa because of which the temple is situated outside the city and its because of this curse only that the water in Dwarka city is salty.

All these places are at an approximate radius of 80kms from Dwarka and the taxies normally charge Rs. 600 (per half day) for this. This cost does not cover the boat charges as well as other entry taxes applicable and the visit to Hanuman Temple at Bet Dwarka.

There are few other temples like Gayatri mandir, Geeta mandir, Siddeshwar Mahadev, Bhadrakali temple, Bhadkeshwar temple. One can hire a auto for Rs. 20-30 per seat to see these places which are within 2-3 km radius. Bhadkeshwar temple is a "must see" as this place is almost surrounded by sea.

Do

Take a plunge into Gomti river, adjacent to Dwarkadhish Temple. Its really refreshing. Salty water? -Don't bother, you can have fresh water bath at nearby private bathing facilities or its good if your lodge is nearby this river.
Visit the Dwarkadheesh Temple which is also called as the Jagad Mandir

Enter temple through river side which has 52 steps.
Electronic items not allowed inside temple. Join people if you find them chanting "Dwarkadhish ki Jai" "Nand ke anand bhayo, Jai kanhayya lal ki".

Note the colour of the main deity. it will be white on friday, blue on saturday ( 7 colours for 7 days of a week)
Look for the colour of the flag. Not surprising to see some one changing the flag. It is changed 5 times a day.

Join the young brahman students reciting "Shri Vishnu sahashsranama" in the morning. Don't miss the Aarti.

hire a boat to cross Gomti River (Rs.10/- per seat). If you are lucky, and its low-tide you can walk and cross river with knee deep water.

Buy

Decorative items made from marine shells.

Eat

There are not many places/ Restaurants. Sharanam near Bhadrakali chowk is good AC restaurant with reasonable price. Depend on 5-6 small restaurants or Roadside Dhabhas/ eatouts also available.

Drink

Alcohol is prohibited in Dwarka. Do not expect any place to serve Alcohol here.

Sleep

Many small, medium, budget lodges at walking distance from temple. 2-3 Luxury hotels also.
Many Dharmashalas available if you are travelling in group. May charge Rs. 25 - 50/- per person.